Date indicator



July 24, 1951 ELMS 2,561,790

DATE INDICATOR Filed June 16, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTCE QOBEQTELMS ATY'OENEYS July 24, 195] R. ELMS 2,561,790

DATE INDICATOR Filed June 16, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

FIG.7.

INVENTOQ EOBEQT ELM S R. ELMS DATE INDICATOR July 24, 1951 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16, 1949 R. ELMS DATE INDICATOR July 24, 19516 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 16, 1949 IN VEN TOE EOBEET ELK 15 ATTOENEVSPatented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES tlFATE-NT OFFICE Application June16, 1949, SeriallNo. 99,553 .In Great Britain June 14, .1948

4 Claims. 1 in the specification or the present .inventors prior PatentNo. 2,213,462, September .3, 1948, :a date indicator is described whichis driven by an electric clock, the day of the month Tbeing indicated bya dial in the form of a disc, drums or numeral wheels. While such a datefigure indicator is efficient ior use on a desk or in a small ofiice'orother apartment, if it 'be required to be erected in a rlarge ofrlce .orhall the numerals indicating the day of the monthhave to be so largethat the dial becomes unduly cumbersome.

:O-ne objectof the present invention is to substitute an indicator ofthe multi-plate type for :the date-figure indicating dial so thatwithoutlfi runduly increasing the size of the complete apparatus,andlparticularly of the operating mechanism, comparatively largenumerals can be used.

Such a substitution, however, was found by experiment to entailconsiderable .difiiculties in order to avoid overloading the dateindicating mechanism, which "difliculties have been overcome by theinvention.

Another object is to substitute a plate type indicator for indicatingthe name ofthe rmonth, tbut a drumitype indicator may be usedior thisipunpose.

-A,.date indicator according to the .invention tincludes .al-multieplateindicator unit consisting "of a series .of :plates each bearing anumeralin- :dicating the-day of themonth, the plates being .iradiallydisposed andapivotally mounted between ,-and-on two flanges adjacent tothe peripheries thereof, the .flanges being carried by a spindle whichis rotated intermittently by mechanism .soasto change (the-date displayplates atthe end bf each day. i

' This mechanism for convenience termed date indicator mechanism .ispreferably driven by electric clockwork, provisionbeingmade bylwhich Titcanbe drivenby hand to enable the appa- Jr'atus to be set.

'Ihe date indicator mechanism also changes the indicator at the end ofthe last day of the month to indicate the first day of the succeedhigmonth irrespective of the number of days 'in'the'month.

In'the application to a perpetual calendar or date indicator, means are.provided .to allow for normafyears and leap years.

I TIheindicator unitfor displaying the. named the month. and operated bythe clockwork mechanism maybe of the drum type but it is preferably ofthe display plate typerandsimilar to the day display plate indicator.

When a month plate indicator unit is provided, means are also providedto counterbalance the unbalanced weight thereof during the changingperiod in order to relieve the driving effort on the intermittentoperating mechanism. Further, means are provided to reduce the lbrakingeffort exerted on the intermittent driving gear during the periodwhenthe month plate indicator unit is unbalanced. Also means areprovided to give the same display formation and other positioning as inthe date figure unit.

In the accompanying drawings a perpetual calendar is illustrated by Wayof example, having plate type indicators both for the day of the monthandlthe month.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation .of the complete apparatus.

Figures 2 and .3 are end elevations as seenin the direction of thearrows at and .b, Figurevhrespectively.

Figure 4is aplan with the casingremoved.

Figure 5iisan .endsectional viewon V--V,.Fig- :ul'fl 5 Figures fiend 7are sectionalend elevations onthe lines'VI-NI, VII-VII,Figureirrespectivly.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation on VIII-VIII, Figure 4.

Figure .9 is a sectional elevation .on IX--IX, Figure 4, and "Figure '10is a corresponding front elevation.

Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views showing thepair of teeth onthelocking disc.

"Figure .13 is a sectional elevation on Y XIIL-XIII, "Figure .4,

"Figure l ifis a detail plan of an indicatorlatch.

Figures 15ancl 16 are respectively a front view and a side sectionalview .of a date indicator having an indicating drum for the name of .the,month.

ZInthe example illustrated by Figures 1 to 14 of the drawings a casing iis provided with .a glazed front .2, arecessed front "plate 3 behind'theglazedfront, the plate 3 having .two openings or windows 4 and 5 atwhich the day .of the .month an'dthe month are indicated respectively.bytwo indicators of the multiplate type.

The day of the month indicator, i. e. the date- .figure indicator,"comprises a series .of plates 20.0 .eachpf which is pivotedron pins 2Min ho1es:202 :in flanges fwt which are fixed on a'spind1e2'04,Ltheholes'being situated close to the circumferentialxedgesof'therfianges, as seen in Figure 13.

Each. plate 1200 bears fa anumeral indicating a day of the month, therebeing thirty-one plates.

As the spindle 204 is rotated intermittently, as hereinafter described,the flanges 203 carry the plates around so that they are first arrestedby a stop 205 and then by a stop 286. These stops are so disposedforwardly of the flanges 203 that although two or more plates may bearrested at the stop 265, at each intermittent rotation of the spindle,the foremost plate, previously arrested by the stop 205, is able to passunder it, and move against the stop 2%. At the same moment the platepreviously arrested by the stop 236 is moved under that stop and fallsdown into a vertical position to expose its indicating numeral.

In falling it passes a latch 201, Figures 13 and 14, which is pivoted at208 and is provided with a spring 209. Stop pins 2! and 2 limit thedegree of oscillation of the latch.

The pivot pin 20B is carried by a bracket 213 formed on a cross bar 2I3.

The falling plates accumulate against a spring tongue 212 carried by thecross bar 213, which extends between and is fixed to two frame plates 2Mand M5, Figure 4. The spring tongue 212 is preferably arranged at thecentre of the cross As the flanges 263 rotate, the plates are drawnsuccessively over the spring tongue 212 and eventually round to thestops 225 and 206.

The stop 205 is conveniently formed on a guard bar 2l6 removably fixedon stay rods. 2|1

and 2H8 connecting the frame plates 2 l4 and 215.

The stop 266 is a rectangular plate screwed to the adjacent end of thebar 2 I6 having an elongated hole for its fixing screw 218 so as toallow of adjustment in-fixing it.

' As each indicator plate is arrested by the stop 206 its plain sidecoincides with the upper part or gap 4' of the window 4, Figure 1, theplate when released from the stop 206 falling down through this gap intothe lower part of the window 4 where it exposes its indicating numeral.

The indicator spindle 204 is rotated intermittently from electricclockwork mechanism so that each operation occurs about midnight, theoperation being controlled by date indicator mechanism similar to thatdescribed in specification 'of Patent No. 2,213,462.

last gear 225 being fixed on the shaft 9. The

shaft 221 is driven from the clockwork by gears 215 and 216, Figures 4and '1. The arrangement is such that the shaft 9 makes one revolutionevery 24 hours.

Means for operating the three armed lever or rocker [9 by hand, in orderto facilitate setting of the mechanism, are shown, comprising a handle226 Figure 4, on a shaft 221 Figures 4 and provided with a snail cam 228for engagement with a roller 229 on one arm of a bell-crank lever 230,the other arm of which is connected by a .link 231 to the rocker 19. Theshaft 221 is pivoted in the frame plate 214 and a bracket 232 Figures-4and 5 fixed thereto.

A coiled spring 233, Figure 5, normally holds the shaft 221 with its cam228 away from the path of the roller 229.

The rocker I9 is moved in one direction by a snail cam E5 on the shaft9, the cam engaging with a v roller 21 on the pin 13a, and in theopposite direction, to drive the ratchet wheel 21, by the coiled spring28. The arm 66, of the bell -crank lever 35 which carries the drivingpawl 36 for the ratchet wheel I3, is moved in both directions by a pinon the ratchet wheel 21 engaging with the hooked end of the bell-cranklever 35 as described in specification of Patent No. 2,213,462,

the pin and hooked end being indicated respectively as 33 and 34 inFigure 11 of the drawings of that specification.

The ratchet wheel 21 has 31 teeth and is advanced one tooth each day. 1

A pawl 60 pivotally mounted on a pin 6| on the frame is urged by aspring 62 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 21 for the purpose ofretaining it against the unbalanced load of the multi-plate day of themonth indicator.

The stroke of the rocker I9 is normally limited by contact of a pin 22on this member with the periphery of the gap disc 23, the disc beingsecured to the ratchet wheel 21. The gap disc23 is provided with a gap31, the effective extent of which is normally limited by a mask 35attached to a disc 38 rotating with the disc 23.

As explained in specification of Patent 2,213,- 462 on the th day of amonth other than February, the gap 31 in the disc 23 is opposite to thepin 22 on the rocker l9. If the month has thirtyone days the rocker canstill make only its normal movement, since the pin l9a concentric withthe roller 2| engages with one of the teeth H3 of a disc [4 freelymounted on the shaft 9. If

the month has thirty days, one of the notches H6 in the disc 14 isbeneath the pin 19a and the rocker 19 can thus follow the snail cam 15under the pressure of the spring 28 until the pin rests on the bottom ofthe notch. The ratchet wheel 21 is thus moved through two steps and thedate indication changed from 30 to 1. next actuation, the disc 23secured to the'ratchet wheel 21 is advanced after one step of movementto a position in which its periphery lies beneath the pin 22 and thisand the following movements of the rocker l9 and the wheel 21 arelimited to one step, notwithstanding that a notch I I6 is still beneaththe pin 19a. The disc 14 is advanced through one step during the middleof each month by the pawl 36, carried bythe bell crank lever 35- whichis actuated by apin (33) on the ratchet wheel 21. The disc I4 is dividedinto forty-eight parts and rotates once in four years, leap years thusbeing provided for. When the disc [4 is stepped into its normalFebruar'y'position, a deep notch H8 comes beneaththepin i911. At thesame time a pin or projection 59 on a four armed member l4rotating withthe disc 14 strikes one arm 58 of a lever 54 and rocks this lever aboutthe pivot 55 so that the, otherarm 53 of the lever rocks a three-armedlever pivoted on the gap disc 23. One arm 440i the lever 45 engages withthe disc SB'carrying the mask 39,

At the the disc thusbeing moved relatively to the disc 23 to increase:the extent of the gap 31.

Thus-p the gap=31 comes under the pin 22 on the 28th of the month,andsincethe deep notch H8 iswbeneath the pin 19a at the same time, the

rocker l9 makes a sufficiently long movement to,

advance the ratchet wheel 21 by four steps, the

date indica-tor then being changed from 28 i In February ofleap year, anotch H1, not so deep as the notch H8, comes beneath-the pin 19a; The:lever 54 is rocked in leapyear by azpin :or projection 590 so arrangedthatthe gap- 31 is increased by a less extent than during a normalFebruary-,whereby the singlestep movement continues until t'he 29th daywhereupon the pin-22 moves into thetgap 31 and the notch H1 permits athree-step movementof the rocker l9.

Theqgap' is always reduced to its normal size during March by the pin 22acting on a lever lfltpivoted on thegap disc 23 andengaging with th'ea'rm 410i the lever 45.

The month name: indicator is of the multi-plate type" and of similarconstruction to the date figure indicatorv before describedexcept thatthe plates 234 which bear the names of the month, alternate with blankplates 235, which are used to approximate the number of plates usedinthe date figure indicator and give a similar resting angle as theysupport each other during rotation andto present the same generalformation in I ,ofthe day indicator by the mechanism now tobe described,so thatit is changed atthe end of each month.

A train offgears 2 42, 243, 244 and 245 drives a disc 2:46 which is,mounted to rotate on a stud 241. The stud is fixedly supported bytheframe plate 212,, and the disc is clamped between a snail cam 218 andthe gear 245 by screws 282, the disc fl'dhaving slots 283,v so as toallow for adjustment; A hole 284 in the frame plate 2 l5 provides thenecessary clearance for the rotation of this clamping device.

The disc 246 hasan and a rim or track 249. A pair or; axially projectinggear teeth 258'is provided on the flange 248, with a recess 25!! betweenthe teeth. A gap 25] is formed in the rim m opposite to the teeth :50. p

I A mutilated pinion 254 is mounted "on a short shaft252 which ispivoted at one end in the frame plate 2 l5 and at the other end in abracket 253 fixed on the next frame plate 212.

Alternate teethof the pinion 254 are cut away for a part of theirlength, for instance there are actually only four teeth on the righthand part of the pinion, as seen in Figures and 11, in the path of thearcuate flange" or track 248, and eight normal teeth on the left handpart in the path of the pair of teeth 258. V j The normal teeth areintended to mesh intermlttently withv the pair of teeth 250. Twoteeth ofthe mutilated part engage with the flange or arcuate flange or track 248 ascicroc tracls248 justbefore'and aiterthe pinion meshes with thepair of teeth 258: so that the pinion'is lockedagainst' rotationr l Y cThe pinion 254 also has four teeth or radial arms 255 of greater radiallength; These are intended for locking engagement with therim 248 whenthe pinion254 is stationary. The gap 251, allows the; longer teeth orarms255 to rotate immediately-before, during and immediately aftertherotation of thepinion 254,.during. which brief period the shortlocking trackor flange 248 is passing the pinion. Whentheindicatorunitvis unbalanced, that is, during the very much longerperiod taken by the-remainder of the rotationof the disc 246,. thelighter frictional contact of the longer teeth or arms 255- on the trackor rim 246 is available. I

Normally a pairof the long. armsor teeth 255 slide in contact with therim 249 so that the shaft 252 is locked against rotation with verylittle braking effort from the. unbalanced unit. Towards the end of themonth-the pair ofteeth 250 and the gap 25] approach the mutilated pinion254 andatthe endoffthe last day of the month the pair of teeth 258engage with the pinion 254 and asthe arms, 255 are freeto rotate in thegap 25l the shaft 252 is rotated one step Motion is thus transmitted bygear Wheels 256 and 251 to thespindle 238, Figure 9, to cause'the blankplate 235,, held: by the forward stop on the guide bar 238, and the nameplate 2 34heldby the rear stop on the bar, to fall down so that the nameof the next month is exhibited at the window 5, Figure 1,. a succeedingblankplate 235 being held by the forward stop andsucceed'ing. name plate234 and blankplate 235 being held by the rear stop. The name plates 234and blank plates 235 are both changed together at each operationalmovement of. the spindle 238, whereas the date figure plates only moveone at a time, this is facilitated by spindle 236 having a of arevolution movement, whereas the spindle 204 has a /31 of a revolutionmovement.

In order to relieve the gearing of the unbalanced load of the day of themonth indicator during its periodic operation, a counterbalance weight264, Figures 4, 9 and/1O is provided. The weight is carried by a lever265 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 266. A ratchet wheel 261 and agear wheel 268 fixed to it are freely mounted on the stud 266. The gearwheel 268 meshes with the gear wheel 251 before referred to. The lever265 has a spring actuated pawl 269 which engages with the ratchet wheel261, so thatthe weight 264 tends to rotate the wheel 268 and thereforeassist in the rotation of the wheel 251 during each operation of themonth indicator. It is normally inoperative whilst being lifted togetherwith the pawl to, the next ratchet tooth by a snail cam 210 whichengages with a pin 21 on an arm 281 of thelever 265. The snail cam 218is secured to the disc 246, hereinbefore referred to, and is arranged torelease the pin 21! ready for the period when'the pair of teeth 258commence operating. The weight 264 then falls and thrusts the pawl 269into driving engagement' with the ratchet wheel 261. It willv beappreciated that the locking track 248 for the mutilated teeth of thepinion is available during the period that the month indicator unitiscounter ,7 ibalancedran'd thatthe locking tr'ackiori'rim'for:thelonger teeth 255, is available duringgthelperiod that the monthindicatorwunit is notcounter Jbalanced. 1m, ia 1A leap yeariindicatorisprovided. It comprises a disc-F158, Figures 4* and 8; bearing numerals1;:2,:3J, 4, indicating'th'e respective year atw'awin' now- 259 ina-disc 26!],Figure 3, at the left'hand end of the casing L The -disc2'58- is:mounted on a spindlealfil f pivoted in "a bracket-262and in'the fraIne plate 2-13 the spind le having a gear wheel 263drivenbya'pinion-ZM on the spindle 238-. x :1? 59,;1' A i The ratio'ofthegears264 and 263 isl-to 4, so that for each complete rotationofthe-fname of the 'month indicator spindle 238,1. e. each year,the-indicator-disc'ififl makes a quarter turn; Th'e electric motor '{2l9is ofthe synchronous alternating current-type and may'loesuch'as'described in specification of the present inventors prior PatentNo. 2,227,894, Januaryfl, lQ iL-the clockwork driven by the motorbeingfsimilar to that described in specification of Patent No. 2,213,462j-Althoiigh-it -preferred to provide a miilti plate indicator fordisplaying the name" of the month as above described, a drum type ofindi cator may Ice-used for-that purpose, for instance as indicated inFigures and 16 In -this example the day-0f the month indicatorgis ofthemulti-plate'" type displaying th day on {plates 2010 at 'a window '4, asin the first examplede- Qf ii if The shaftZ'M of thisf indicator drivesthe shaft 218 of a driimilil hearing the names-of the monthon itsperiphery for displayat a window The drive is eiiectedhy'simflarmeansftdthfat adopted for drivingthe month inoli'catorhf the firstexample, the corresponding parts'shown in Figureflfi beingindicated bysimilar reference numerals. TAs the ida'yof the month indicator unit isarranged above the month indicator unit, the g'ear"wheel 256 drives'theshaft 213 through atram rgears,211; a I fl Ajs the drum 2'l9'isbalanoedjther'e is no necessity'to provide a halance'weight as in thefirs't example. The invention isjnot confined to a the particu1ar mechanism describedv 'for inter te'ritly driving the date figure platedisplay unite-s y tElGIQBQtIlVaIQ-ll l') means may be adopted I claim 1"1 'A date ifdicato r having arday of the month indicatorpi themi'ilti-plate type and- -comprising thirtyr-one plates each bearing"afnumeral repreentin a day of the month, a shaftffianges'fixed on'said'shaft, i'said plates beingpivotally mounted in'jeqiia'lly''space'd'relation on and between said flanges, an upper adjustable stopfor they purpose of successivel releasing and synchronising the release,of said plates, a lower resilient sto'pQfor arrestingandretainingtherel'eased plates i'ndi's play position, means for imparting a]unidirectionalfrotational movement to saidshaft includ- I inga ratphetwheelhavingthirt one teeth, a driving pawl for co-operation with saidteeth, means for reciprocating said drivingpawlf'includ ing a clockworkInechanisrd'to effect a recipr'o cation once ever'yf twenty-four hours,a spring loaded detent forjengageinentwith said ratchet wheelfor thepurpose of retainin'g" it .withthe indicator plates in display positionagainst the unbalanced load of said plates, and jineanfs' f,or

varying the amplitudeo'f reciprocation 'of" said driving pawl-on the28th, 29th and 30th opera'. tion to suit the days of themonthgsaid'amplitude varying means beingof the character :referred toincluding a rocker carrying :saiddrivjing pawl, a variable gap disc, anotcheddiscand a driving snail drivenby said clockwork mecha- 22; A dateindicator as specified in claimlzprovided with a month-name indicator ofthe multiplate type, comprising a series of alternate blank plates and;plates. bearing the names of the months, a shaft provided with flanges.between and on which said plates, are pivotallylmounted and stops forsuccessively arresting and releasing said plates for the purpose ofdisplaypositioning andsynchronising thereof, and driving gear betweenthe shaft of the day of the month indicator and the shaft of themonth-name indicator including a driving disc oncthe former shaftprovided with two'locking tracks one having a pair of teeth, andtheotherhaving a gap opposite'to said pair of teeth, anda mutilatedtoothedipinion having normal teeth for. intermittent driving engagementvfwiththepair of. teeth, mutilated teeth for locking engagementwvith one'ofs'a'id tracks and longer teeth-for locking'engagem'eht with the otherofsaid tracksfor-the purpose-0f enabling the shaft of the month-nameindicator to be partially rotated-at the end of each month iwhenthedriving disc has been rotated to bring :the pair of teeth and the gapinto register respectively with the'normal and longerteeth'of thepinion-the longer locking teeth reducing the braking effort on thedrivi'ng disc dlie to the unbalanced weight of multi-plate unit. 3-.A'date indicator as'specifiedin claim 1; provided with a month-nameindicator of the -multi ip'late type, comprising" aseries ofaIternatebIanR plates and "plates bearing the names ofthe months, ashaftprovided with 'flanges'b'etween and on which said plates arepivot-ally mounted and stops for successivel arresting'and-rieleasingand-display positioning and synchronising sai plates,'and driving gearbetweenthe'shaft day of them'onth indicator and the shaft month-nameindicator including a drivin on' the former shaftprovided with twolocliing tracks one-ha' ving apair of teeth, and the other havingagapop'posite' to ls'aid pair er teeth and a mutilated-toothedpinionhaving normal teeth fol-intermittent driving engagement with thepair of-teeth; mutilated teeth for locking. engagement with'oneof saidtracks and'longer teethforlo 'kiing engagement with'the other of sa V 'Xthe purpose of enabling the shaft" i name'indicator to be partiallyrotate, fth'e' end of each month when the driving disc has "been rotatedto bring the pair of teeth and: thefga p into register'respectivelywitnfthe ,nor'malfland longer teeth of the pinion, theflon g'er clockingteeth redi cing thc men wear; on the-driving disc'due to the unbalancedWeight of,multi-plate mit, and means for counterbalancing said month;-name indicatorv (luring the partial. rotation ofits shaft for thepurpose of relieving.therdriving effort o n the aforesaid driving gear,comprisingla ratchet wheel in geared'connection with s aid driving geara. freely] mounted ,conntenbalance weightedjlever having a driving pawlengaging witl' said ratchet wheel, and also having 1 air arm providedwith a pin, a, snail. cam .oiiicthe afore; said driving discfor enga ing'withl said pin for the purpose of raising jsaid weighted lever vfdr'ivinjg' pawl to the'next operative po'sitio on th ratchet Wheel.

2,561,790 9 10 4. A date indicator as specified in claim 1 in-REFERENCES CITED eluding means for actuating the rocker by hand Thefollowin references are of record in to facilitate the setting of theday of the month file of this pafent; the

indicator independently of the clockwork mechanism, said meanscomprising a shaft having a 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS handle thereon, asnail cam fixed on said shaft, Number Name Date a spring for holdingsaid shaft with said snail 2,096,248 Huston Oct. 19, 1937 cam in aninoperative position, a lever having a 2,257,947 Goldwait Oct. 7, 1941roller for engagement by said snail cam and a 2,343,969 Forbes Mar. 14,1944 link connecting said lever to the rocker. 10 2,470,692 Farr May 17,1949 ROBERT ELMS FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,824 GreatBritain Feb. 14, 1934

